TED Health

How to find your voice | Greta Morgan

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What would happen if the thing that defined you disappeared overnight? Whether it’s our job, our abilities, or output—many of us meld our identiti...

How sugar affects the brain | Nicole Avena

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When you eat something loaded with sugar, your taste buds, your gut and your brain all take notice. This activation of your reward system is not unlik...

Racism has a cost for everyone | Heather McGhee

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Racism makes our economy worse -- and not just in ways that harm people of color, says public policy expert Heather C. McGhee. From her research and t...

How technology has changed what it's like to be deaf | Rebecca Knill

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"Complete silence is very addictive," says Rebecca Knill, a writer who has cochlear implants that enable her to hear. In this funny, insightful talk, ...

The breakthrough science of mRNA medicine | Melissa J. Moore

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The secret behind medicine that uses messenger RNA (or mRNA) is that it "teaches" our bodies how to fight diseases on our own, leading to groundbreaki...

From Revisionist History: Way to Go, Ohio

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’re sharing a bonus episode from our friends at Revisionist History, Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast about things misunderstood and overlooked. This ...

Sex education should start with consent | Kaz

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Consent can be a tricky topic to talk about in sex education curriculums, but it doesn't have to be. In this hilarious and relatable talk, sex educato...

The inaccurate link between body ideals and health | Nancy N. Chen

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Global obesity rates are on the rise, but body shaming campaigns are doing more harm than good, says medical anthropologist Nancy N. Chen. Reflecting ...

We can make COVID-19 the last pandemic | Bill Gates

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Building a pandemic-free future won't be easy, but Bill Gates believes that we have the tools and strategies to make it possible -- now we just have t...

Inside the bizarre world of internet trolls and propagandists | Andrew Marantz

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Andrew Marantz spent three years embedded in the world of internet trolls and social media propagandists, seeking out the people who are pr...

How comic strips create better health care | Sam Hester

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Comics creator Sam Hester is part of a growing movement within health care: graphic medicine. In short, literally drawing attention to a patient's nee...

Can I speed up my metabolism?

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From metabolism gummies to spicy foods, the Keto diet to intricate exercise routines—it seems there’s always something that is being sold or promo...

How we can protect truth in the age of misinformation | Sinan Aral

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fake news can sway elections, tank economies and sow discord in everyday life. Data scientist Sinan Aral demystifies how and why it spreads so quickly...

4 kinds of regret -- and what they teach you about yourself | Daniel H. Pink

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Regret is one of our most powerful emotions -- and also one of the most misunderstood. Over the past two years, author Daniel H. Pink has collected a ...

Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can you REALLY boost your metabolism? Is blue light actually ruining your sleep? How much vaginal yeast is healthy and when is it … too much? Body S...

You shouldn't have to choose between filling your prescriptions and paying bills | Kiah Williams

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As prescription drug costs skyrocket in the US, thousands of people are forced to forgo lifesaving medications -- all while manufacturers and health c...

The cure for burnout (hint: it isn't self-care) | Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You may be experiencing burnout and not even know it, say authors (and sisters) Emily and Amelia Nagoski. In an introspective and deeply relatable con...

What's your happiness score? | Dominic Price

03 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you rediscover a happier, more purpose-driven (and less productivity-obsessed) self in the wake of the pandemic? Quiz yourself alongside work f...

We don't "move on" from grief. We move forward with it | Nora McInerny

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In a talk that's by turns heartbreaking and hilarious, writer and podcaster Nora McInerny shares her hard-earned wisdom about life and death. Her cand...

How to manage your stress like an ER doctor | Darria Long

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do doctors in the emergency room stay calm and focused amidst the chaos? Drawing on years of experience, ER doctor Darria Long shares a straightfo...

Listen now: WorkLife season 5

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

WorkLife with Adam Grant is back for a fifth season! Organizational psychologist Adam Grant knows that you spend a quarter of your life at work–and ...

My mother's final wish — and the right to die with dignity | Elaine Fong

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After a terminal cancer diagnosis upended 12 years of remission, all Elaine Fong's mother wanted was a peaceful end of life. What she received instead...

The power of venom -- and how it could one day save your life | Mandë Holford

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Venom can kill ... or it can cure. From killer sea snails to platypuses and slow lorises, marine chemical biologist Mandë Holford shares her research...

A smart bra for better heart health | Alicia Chong Rodriguez

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Could an everyday clothing item help protect your health? In this quick talk, TED Fellow Alicia Chong Rodriguez introduces us to a smart bra designed ...

3 ways to prepare society for the next pandemic | Jennifer B. Nuzzo

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What if we treated the risk of pandemics the same way we treat the risk of fires? In this eye-opening talk, infectious disease epidemiologist Jennifer...

Will humans one day hibernate? | TED Radio Hour

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bears and squirrels hibernate to survive harsh conditions; why not humans? If we want to travel deep into space or combat deadly diseases, physiologis...

A new way to help young people with their mental health | Tom Osborn

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

TED Fellow Tom Osborn wants more young people to have access to the mental health support they need. With the Shamiri Institute, he and his team are t...

It's impossible to have healthy people on a sick planet | Shweta Narayan

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The doctrine of "first, do no harm" is the basis of the Hippocratic Oath, one of the world's oldest codes of ethics. It governs the work of physicians...

The mood-boosting power of crying | Kathy Mendias

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Here's a talk about tears -- and why crying isn't something to be afraid or ashamed of. Exploring the science behind the mood-boosting power of crying...

The life-changing power of assistive technologies | Jane Velkovski

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"This chair is my legs -- this chair is my life," says accessibility champion Jane Velkovski, who uses a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Spinal ...

The anxiety that comes from being treated like an outsider | Valerie Purdie-Greenaway

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The stress you may feel being otherized or stereotyped can take a significant toll on your health and well-being. In this thoughtful conversation, soc...

How we could eat real meat without harming animals | Isha Datar

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What if you could eat chicken nuggets without harming a chicken? It's possible through "cellular agriculture," says Isha Datar. In a talk about cuttin...

3 ways community creates a healthy life | Olivia Affuso

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Maintaining a healthy weight takes more than diet and exercise, says physical activity epidemiologist Olivia Affuso. In this actionable talk, she show...

A simple solution to maintaining life-saving vaccines | Nithya Ramanathan

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Refrigerators do much more than store your groceries -- they're also vital to preserving and distributing vaccines. Illustrating the realities of (and...

The brain science of obesity | Mads Tang-Christensen

04 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Your belly and your brain speak to each other, says obesity researcher Mads Tang-Christensen. Offering scientific proof that obesity is a disease infl...

The cure for burnout (hint: it isn't self-care) | Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

28 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the end of the year fast approaching, you may be experiencing burnout and not even know it. That’s why we’re bringing back this introspective...

Maternal and child health is a human right | Aparna Hedge

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Overcrowded clinics, extensive wait times and overworked doctors are taking a devastating toll on mothers and children in India. In this eye-opening t...

An NFL quarterback on overcoming setbacks and self-doubt | Alex Smith

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Former NFL quarterback Alex Smith almost died after a particularly rough tackle snapped his leg in 2018 -- yet he was back on the field just two years...

How humanity doubled life expectancy in a century | Steven Johnson

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Doubling human life expectancy in a century is our greatest achievement, says author Steven Johnson. How did we make it happen -- and can we keep it g...

Could you recover from illness ... using your own stem cells? | Nabiha Saklayen

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if diseases could be treated with a patient's own cells, precisely and on demand? Biotech entrepreneur Nabiha Saklayen explains how we could harn...

Is drinking milk essential for building strong bones? | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Got milk? When it comes to building strong bones, you shouldn’t just stick to the dairy aisle—but many people are starting to skip it all together...

The Spermageddon is coming | Am I Normal?

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"You should start thinking about kids at your age! Your biological clock is ticking!” When we talk about fertility, there's one section of the popul...

The future of psychedelic medicines and healthcare | Shoshana Clubhouse Conversation

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’re in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance, where this once demonized class of drugs is now front and center receiving attention among entrepre...

The inaccurate link between body ideals and health | Nancy N. Chen

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Global obesity rates are on the rise, but body shaming campaigns are doing more harm than good, says medical anthropologist Nancy N. Chen. Reflecting ...

The power of venom -- and how it could one day save your life | Mandë Holford

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Venom can kill ... or it can cure. From killer sea snails to platypuses and slow lorises, marine chemical biologist Mandë Holford shares her research...

Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, a trailer from Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, a new TED Original podcast.​​Everyone wants to know if they're normal. Is my body normal, is...

What if mental health workers responded to emergency calls? | Leslie Herod

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you report an emergency in the US, police, firefighters or paramedics answer the call. What if mental health professionals responded, too? Colora...

A smart bra for better heart health | Alicia Chong Rodriguez

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Could an everyday clothing item help protect your health? In this quick talk, TED Fellow Alicia Chong Rodriguez introduces us to a smart bra designed ...

The tiny balls of fat that could revolutionize medicine | Kathryn A. Whitehead

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if you were holding life-saving medicine ... but had no way to administer it? Zoom down to the nano level with engineer Kathryn A. Whitehead as s...

The anxiety that comes from being treated like an outsider | Valerie Purdie-Greenaway

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The stress you may feel being otherized or stereotyped can take a significant toll on your health and well-being. In this thoughtful conversation, soc...

Meet the scientist couple driving an mRNA vaccine revolution | Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As COVID-19 spread, BioNTech cofounders Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci had one goal: to make a safe, effective vaccine faster than ever before. In th...

3 ways to create a menopause-friendly work culture | Andrea Berchowitz

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hot flashes, joint pain, anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping -- these unforgiving menopause symptoms directly impact work but often go overlooked...

How to find meaning after loss | David Kessler

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You may be familiar with the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. After decades of research and his own experie...

Could we treat spinal cord injuries with asparagus? | Andrew Pelling

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Take a mind-blowing trip to the lab as TED Senior Fellow Andrew Pelling shares his research on how we could use fruits, vegetables and plants to regen...

An innovative way to support children with special needs | Billy Samuel Mwape

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After his son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Billy Samuel Mwape realized that his project management skills might be put to use to support his chi...

How your body could become its own diagnostic lab | Aaron Morris

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We need an inside-out approach to how we diagnose disease, says immuno-engineer and TED Fellow Aaron Morris. Introducing cutting-edge medical research...

The science behind how parents affect child development | Yuko Munakata

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Parents, take a deep breath: how your kids turn out isn't fully on you. Of course, parenting plays an important role in shaping who children become, b...

How COVID-19 transformed the future of medicine | Daniel Kraft

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic forced the world to work together like never before and, with unprecedented speed, bore a new age of health and medical innovation. Physi...

How motivation can fix public systems | Abhishek Gopalka

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you fix broken public systems? You spark people's competitive spirit. In a talk about getting people motivated to make change, public sector st...

The cure for burnout (hint: it isn't self-care) | Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You may be experiencing burnout and not even know it, say authors (and sisters) Emily and Amelia Nagoski. In an introspective and deeply relatable con...

What causes opioid addiction, and why is it so tough to combat? | Mike Davis

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the 1980s and 90s, pharmaceutical companies began to market opioid painkillers aggressively, while actively downplaying their addictive potential. ...

Maternal and child health is a human right | Aparna Hedge

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Overcrowded clinics, extensive wait times and overworked doctors are taking a devastating toll on mothers and children in India. In this eye-opening t...

The mood-boosting power of crying | Kathy Mendias

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here's a talk about tears -- and why crying isn't something to be afraid or ashamed of. Exploring the science behind the mood-boosting power of crying...

How to manage your stress like an ER doctor | Darria Long

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do doctors in the emergency room stay calm and focused amidst the chaos? Drawing on years of experience, ER doctor Darria Long shares a straightfo...

How your memory works -- and why forgetting is totally OK | Lisa Genova

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever misplaced something you were just holding? Completely blanked on a famous actor's name? Walked into a room and immediately forgot why? N...

What is pneumonia and why is it so dangerous? | Eve Gaus and Vanessa Ruiz

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Every time you breathe, air travels down the trachea through a series of channels, and then reaches little clusters of air sacs in the lungs. These ti...

How to deal with stress from COVID-19 and manage your well-being | Esther Perel

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you effectively regulate stress? Therapist Esther Perel discusses the importance of creating routines, rituals and boundaries to deal with pand...

The past, present and future of nicotine addiction | Mitch Zeller

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, killing more people each year than alcohol, AIDS, car acc...

The next software revolution: programming biological cells | Sara-Jane Dunn

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The cells in your body are like computer software: they're "programmed" to carry out specific functions at specific times. If we can better understand...

What it means to be intersex | Susannah Temko

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For intersex people -- those born with sex characteristics outside the traditional definitions of female and male -- the stakes to appear "normal" are...

My mother's final wish — and the right to die with dignity | Elaine Fong

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After a terminal cancer diagnosis upended 12 years of remission, all Elaine Fong's mother wanted was a peaceful end of life. What she received instead...

Why are drug prices so high? Investigating the outdated US patent system | Priti Krishtel

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Between 2006 and 2016, the number of drug patents granted in the United States doubled -- but not because there was an explosion in invention or innov...

How menopause affects the brain | Lisa Mosconi

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Many of the symptoms of menopause -- hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, memory lapses, depression and anxiety -- start in the brain. How exactly doe...

The Biology of Sex | TED Radio Hour

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Over a century ago, one part of our DNA got labelled the "sex chromosomes." Science journalist and Radiolab producer Molly Webster explains the conseq...

What causes panic attacks and how you can prevent them | Cindy J. Aaronson

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Countless poets and writers have tried to put words to the experience of a panic attack— a sensation so overwhelming, many people mistake it for a h...

How synthetic biology can improve our health, food and materials | Emily Leproust

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if we could use biology to restore our balance with nature without giving up modern creature comforts? Advocating for a new kind of environmental...

How to avoid catching prickly emotions from other people | Jessica Woods

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Difficult emotions can get under your skin if you're not careful. Sport and performance consultant Jessica Woods calls this the "jumping cholla effect...

What causes headaches? | Dan Kwartler

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In ancient Greece, the best-known remedy for a long-standing headache was to drill a small hole in the skull to drain supposedly infected blood. Fortu...

TEDxSHORTS: Tal Zak

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today we're sharing another podcast from TED: TEDx SHORTS. Chief Medical Officer of Moderna Tal Zaks offers a look into the future of personalized med...

How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics | Cara Greene Epstein

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When catastrophe strikes, art prevails—and has done so for centuries. In this fascinating talk, writer and director Cara Greene Epstein places the c...

How to Be a Better Human: The emotional support you need right now | Guy Winch‪

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today we're sharing another podcast from TED: How to Be a Better Human. Have you been feeling isolated or emotionally vulnerable lately? Loneliness is...

What you can do to prevent Alzheimer's | Lisa Genova

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Alzheimer's doesn't have to be your brain's destiny, says neuroscientist and author of "Still Alice," Lisa Genova. She shares the latest science inves...

How couples can sustain a strong sexual connection for a lifetime | Emily Nagoski

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As a sex educator, Emily Nagoski is often asked: How do couples sustain a strong sexual connection over the long term? In this funny, insightful talk,...

Is marijuana bad for your brain? | Anees Bahji

26 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 1970, marijuana was classified as a schedule 1 drug in the United States: the strictest designation possible, meaning it was completely illegal and...

Can we edit memories? | Amy Milton

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Trauma and PTSD rewire your brain -- especially your memory -- and can unearth destructive emotional responses when stirred. Could we eliminate these ...

The case for student mental health days | Hailey Hardcastle

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

School can be rife with stress, anxiety, panic attacks and even burnout — but there's often no formal policy for students who need to prioritize the...

How your brain's executive function works -- and how to improve it | Sabine Doebel

05 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You use your brain's executive function every day -- it's how you do things like pay attention, plan ahead and control impulses. Can you improve it to...

How changing your story can change your life | Lori Gottlieb

29 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Stories help you make sense of your life -- but when these narratives are incomplete or misleading, they can keep you stuck instead of providing clari...

What happens when biology becomes technology? | Christina Agapakis

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"We've been promised a future of chrome -- but what if the future is fleshy?" asks biological designer Christina Agapakis. In this awe-inspiring talk,...

The mental health benefits of storytelling for health care workers | Laurel Braitman

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Health care workers are under more stress than ever before. How can they protect their mental health while handling new and complex pressures? TED Fel...

What yoga does to your body and brain | Krishna Sudhir

08 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are many different approaches to modern yoga— though most forms have three core elements: physical postures, breathing exercises, and spiritua...

The way we think about biological sex is wrong | Emily Quinn

01 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that almost 150 million people worldwide are born intersex -- with biology that doesn't fit the standard definition of male or female? (T...

You shouldn't have to choose between filling your prescriptions and paying bills | Kiah Williams

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As prescription drug costs skyrocket in the US, thousands of people are forced to forgo lifesaving medications -- all while manufacturers and health c...

The brain-changing benefits of exercise | Wendy Suzuki

17 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What's the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym a...

The future of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy | Rick Doblin

10 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Could psychedelics help us heal from trauma and mental illnesses? Researcher Rick Doblin has spent the past three decades investigating this question,...

What foods did your ancestors love? | Aparna Pallavi

03 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Around the world, Indigenous food cultures vanish because of industrialized agriculture and a shifting, Western-influenced concept of the ideal diet. ...

A comprehensive, neighborhood-based response to COVID-19 | Kwame Owusu-Kesse

27 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Crisis interventions often focus on a single aspect of a big, complicated problem, failing to address the broader social and economic context. Kwame O...

How to manage your stress like an ER doctor | Darria Long

20 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do doctors in the emergency room stay calm and focused amidst the chaos? Drawing on years of experience, ER doctor Darria Long shares a straightfo...

Sleep is your superpower | Matt Walker

13 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sleep is your life-support system and Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality, says sleep scientist Matt Walker. In this deep dive into the sci...

Introducing TED Health

06 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

TED Health is re-launching in audio on October 13. What does exercise do to your brain? Can psychedelics treat depression? From smart daily habits to ...